It is so trite, isn’t it? To over and over again hear that martial arts empower? What exactly does that mean? Do you take a class and emerge a superhero? Do you kick a bag and feel like you can suddenly conquer the world?

I am sure that there are several definitions of empowerment that fit the martial art spectrum, but let us not take this commonplace word of “empowerment” at face value. There is a lot going on behind the scenes.

When you learn a martial art, normally you stretch your body and your limbs before you train.  You might sit on the floor with legs wide, do a split, roll the neck, or shrug the shoulders a few times. Sit ups, jumping jacks, and some other cardio movement might be mixed in. These are precursors and preparation for many martial artists before they jump in to their strenuous training. After some stretching and movement, your body starts to feel prepared for more activity.

Martial arts, on a bigger scale, are a way to stretch your life and prepare you for whatever comes your way. Life has stress, good and bad, and if you never relieve those burdens, they build up and one day you feel like you cannot take anymore.

A martial art can keep things in perspective and during practice, your stressful thoughts fade. Your fears are momentarily conquered, and your worry is controlled because the mind receives a rest. During that time, you are renewed and yes, even empowered. When your training subsides, the stress is diluted and seems more manageable and bearable.

There is more. Martial arts touch your imagination in ways you never realized. Once you start to find success, when you earn a new belt, meet a requirement, or just feel good about what you are doing, your mind opens. It sees a new you. The mind thinks, this person is starting to feel alive, purposeful, joyous, and spirited. Once you feel it, you can bring that feeling with you wherever you go. It is positive and purposeful and available always.

From this, your imagination grows. You now realize that your practice directly affects your thoughts, your mood, and your potential. From beginner to advanced, a martial art is only half about the body. The other half is about combining your expansive mindset with the physical practice, and that is where imagination and empowerment collide.

What about enlightenment? Now, there’s true power.

The power of the mind is incredible. You can forgive, mend, better, enjoy, create, and develop. If you allow yourself to believe in your potential, you can move past being empowered by some external ideal, such as a martial art, to becoming enlightened within. Enlightenment can equate to insight, understanding, and awareness.

No, you don’t have to be some kind of Guru to feel enlightened. Each and every one of us has the opportunity to explore this crucial, and very personal, state of mind.

Often, you think of a yoga or a Tai Chi practitioner when you envision enlightenment, because their movements are so methodical, slow, thoughtful, and balanced. Truly, any practice can bring about aspects of enlightenment, even martial arts that focus on very physical deliverance of techniques.

This is a very simplified version of enlightenment. In some states of mind, enlightenment is a state of perfect knowledge or wisdom, combined with infinite compassion. On a small scale, though, we can all achieve personal enlightenment through a devoted martial art practice, because it causes us to look inward, and when we understand ourselves we have a greater understanding of the world around us, and how we can more powerfully and positively impact it.

I see myself and the world differently now, than before I was a martial artist. My enlightenment came in spurts and in various ways over the years. A perfect example of how this works is when I realized that I needed to use my martial art practice to inspire and motivate others. I clearly heard a voice inside of me that said, “This is what you are meant to do.” So, I put my trust in it, and followed the idea. I never know if I’m doing it right, but I assume another voice will come and tell me if I’m not!

Don’t learn a martial art to become enlightened. It doesn’t really happen that way. Wisdom and understanding take time, and each of us experiences it differently. Everyone is capable of applying what they have learned from a martial art to life. You can label it anything you want, understanding, insight, wisdom, or awareness, it does not matter. What matters is that you find the light within, which is the light of you.

Empowerment and enlightenment are a couple of concepts that are not easily defined, even if you use a dictionary. They are more ethereal than they are concrete. I cannot claim to be the most enlightened person, but I do know that martial arts have given me confidence, and the kind of empowerment that I need to continue my journey as a martial artist, writer, and motivator.

Take a look at what is inside of you. Give yourself every chance to grow, in both the mental and physical aspects. Reach even deeper for a hint of something more inside, like a flame flickering, or a star twinkling. This is your courage building and your empowerment and enlightenment inching its way through. Let them in and then continue. The journey is just beginning.

Andrea

 

 

 

Andrea’s book, The Martial Arts Woman, is now available at www.themartialartswoman.storenvy.com or on Amazon!

The Martial Arts Woman shares the stories and insights of more than twenty-five women in the martial arts, and how they apply martial arts to their lives. This book will motivate and inspire you to go after your goals in life and to fight through every challenge and defeat every obstacle. The Martial Arts Woman will open your eyes to the power of the human spirit and the martial art mindset that dwells in each of us! You can contact Andrea through her website, www.themartialartswoman.com.